Beyoncé Bowl Halftime Show and Football Were Huge Hits for Netflix.

Sports fans who logged into Netflix for the groundbreaking streaming of two NFL games got a bit of deja vu at first. The event began with some audio glitches during host Kay Adams’ introduction, bringing back memories of past streaming hiccups during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match. But, luckily, Netflix quickly ironed out those issues and treated viewers to a two-game extravaganza that felt like their version of the Super Bowl.

The actual football games themselves may not have been the most exciting part of the day, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens both securing wins. But Netflix made sure to stack the deck with experienced broadcasters, flashy graphics, and all the game info fans could ask for. The audio and connection problems were largely a thing of the past, at least from my viewing experience, especially when watching in slightly delayed playback.

Over 200 countries tuned in to catch the Chiefs vs. Steelers game, making it the second most-watched live title on Netflix. The streamer took advantage of this massive audience to promote other Netflix shows, including a sneak peek at WWE Raw live events and tie-ins with the show “Is It Cake?” with football-shaped cakes.

While there were some commercials sprinkled throughout the stream, viewers with ad-free plans could skip past them. The full games were available for three hours after the event, with highlight programs and a standalone Beyonce halftime show set to follow.

Speaking of the halftime show, Beyonce brought her A-game with a dazzling performance in her hometown dubbed the “Beyonce Bowl.” Her live set featured songs from her album Cowboy Carter for the first time, complete with impressive visuals, dancers, and guest appearances. The performance lasted over 13 minutes, outshining pre-taped appearances by Mariah Carey.

Netflix’s venture into live NFL streaming signals a new era for the platform, competing with rivals like Amazon Prime Video and Peacock. With plans to stream WWE Raw events and secure rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Netflix is making waves in the live sports arena. The future of TV and sports media is evolving, and Netflix is at the forefront of this exciting shift.